RANSOM_RAA.B

 Analysis by: Jeanne Jocson

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet


This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It gathers information and reports it to its servers.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

613,358 bytes

File Type:

JS

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

14 Sep 2016

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Encrypts files, Displays message/message boxes

Arrival Details

This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Installation

This Trojan drops a copy of itself in the following folders using different file names:

  • %My Documents%\{random 5 alphanumeric characters}.js
      (Note: %My Documents% is usually C:\\Documents and Settings\\{user name}\\My Documents on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\\Users\\{user name}\\Documents on Windows Vista and 7.)

It drops the following files:

  • %Desktop%\!!!README!!!{random 5 alphanumeric characters}.rtf-serves as ransom note
  • %Desktop%\KEY-{GUID}-contains the key for decryption
  • %My Documents%\doc_attached_{random 5 alphanumeric characters}-dummy file
  • %My Documents%\{random 5 alphanumeric characters}.dll-non malicious component file(DynamicWrapperX)
  • %My Documents%\ii.exe-detected by Trend Micro as TSPY_FAREIT.B
      (Note: %My Documents% is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\My Documents on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Documents on Windows Vista and 7.)

(Note: %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It adds the following processes:

  • %System%\regsvr32.exe /i /s "%My Documents%\{random 5 alphanumeric characters}.dll"
  • wordpad.exe "%My Documents%\doc_attached_{random 5 alphanumeric characters}"
  • wordpad.exe "%Desktop%\!!!README!!!{random 5 alphanumeric characters}.rtf"
  • %My Documents%\ii.exe
      (Note: %My Documents% is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\My Documents on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Documents on Windows Vista and 7.)

(Note: %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
"" = "%My Documents%\{random 5 alphanumeric characters}.js argument"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\kkoq\Ghsgd

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\kkoq\kkoq-fnl

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\kkoq\Ghsgd
"" = {GUID}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\kkoq\kkoq-fnl
"" = "beenFinished"

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\VSS

Other Details

This Trojan encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .doc
  • .xls
  • .rtf
  • .pdf
  • .dbf
  • .jpg
  • .dwg
  • .cdr
  • .psd
  • .cd
  • .mdb
  • .png
  • .lcd
  • .zip
  • .rar

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {filename of encrypted file}.{extension of encrypted file}.locked

It does the following:

  • It avoids encrypting the following folders:
    • RECYCLER
    • Program Files
    • Program Files (x86)
    • Windows
    • Recycle.Bin
    • RECYCLE.BIN
    • Recycler
    • TEMP
    • APPDATA
    • AppData
    • Temp
    • ProgramData
    • Microsoft

It gathers the following information and reports it to its servers:

  • http://bit.ly/{BLOCKED}MD

NOTES:

This ransomware opens the dropped document file containing a fake error message in Russian language stating that it requires a newer Word version to open the said document:

After its encryption routine, it opens the dropped ransom note:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

12.776.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

14 Sep 2016

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

12.777.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

15 Sep 2016

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 3

Delete this registry key

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

 
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER
    • kkoq

Step 4

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • = "%My Documents%\{random 5 alphanumeric characters}.js argument"

Step 5

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %Desktop%\!!!README!!!{random 5 alphanumeric characters}.rtf
  • %Desktop%\KEY-{GUID}
  • %My Documents%\doc_attached_{random 5 alphanumeric characters}
  • %My Documents%\{random 5 alphanumeric characters}.dll
  • %My Documents%\ii.exe

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_RAA.B. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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